The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-14
CONNECTIONS WITH SEWERS.
A Few Sharp Suggestions on DR.. Dun
cans Ordinance on the Subject.

Editor Morning NeioS: | must confess
myself surprised at the dumb stupidity with
which the taxpayers of Savannah allow
themselves to be trampled upon by official
tyranny, proved upon through official in
efficiency, and murdered through official
imbecility. | am aware that this is exceed
ingly strong language but it takes strong
language to wake up people from their
lethargy, and to make them realize that
there is something more for public officers
to do than skim over their work, tell good
stories, drink good whisky, and smoke good
cigars
My first charge is that they are trampled
upon through official tyranny; and the fact
that the Sanitary Board and Health Com
mittee of Council are fully aware that they
have the power to lay down flushed sys-
tenn OF lane sewers, which can not only be
done at one-fifth the expense Of the plan
involved in DR.. Duncans ordinance, but
will be thousand times better and safer in
its sanitary usefulness, places upon Council
and the Sanitary Board the shame of not
trying to provide the really sanitary and
certainly economical system provided for
by legislative enactment.
My second charge is that we are trampled
upon through official ineticiency. In
blocks where ten houses exist, sewer
connections will cost $50 to $50, or
an average of about SO TO each house un-
der DR.. Duncan's ordinance 4; and, counting
both blocks which ought TO be accommo-
dated by central lane pipe, the cost for
twenty houses would be about 81 500. IN
addition to this comes the red tape expense
called permit for each connection, that
is, Sl4 for each house-$l40 for ten houses
and $3.50 for twenty houses or two blocks
Now, under the system which advocated,
and for the execution of which the Legisla-
ture has already granted power to the
city, the central lane pipe for the two blocks
Of say twenty houses, would cost about
$500, that is SIS to each house, in other
words, each house would save $50 out of SIS,
and the twenty houses would save 81 200
out of 81, 800 Itstrikes me that we are pay
ing very dear price for the efficiency of
our sanitary authorities, at least in a prac
teal business way.
My third charge is that we are murdered
through official imbecttity. 1t will, per
haps, amaze this lethargic conservative u
las it delights to call itself!D community to
be told that Judge Chisholms daughter,
Dr. Harris daughter, and countless others
whom L could name, lost their lives from
just such system of house drainage as that
provided for by DIR. Duncan's ordinance.
My familiarity with these facts when was
member of the Sanitary Board induced
me to study up thoroughly the wisest means
of saving these precious lives But
the political whirlgig which placed
Mayor Lester in office Topped me off of the
Sanitary Board, and the most earnest
worker for the health of the city gave place
to the usual Savannah conservatism, leth-
argy lack of earnestness, and laundering
do-nothing ness. Thus, month after month
we are plundered of thousands, when we
ought to pay but hundreds, and the scythe
of death sharpens its edge on the conserUa-
tiSn1 of our sanitary authorities. death
loves a shining mark" and DR.. Duncan's
ordinance, if carried out. will increase just
so much the number of shining marks"
LOUIS A. FALLIGANT, NJ D.,
Formerly member of the Sanitary Board ,
etc.
NoTE-No city in the world is located
with better opportunity for good house
drainage, and no city in the world is more
blunderingly governed in this respect.
l. A Y